Pick 'em up, or leave 'em lay?

[USAFpj]

I'm getting to the point where I'm dumping ringnecks pretty good these days.  What's the etiquette if you don't have a dog to retrieve them after they're downed?  If there's no danger in them drifting away, can they be left on the water until you're done hunting, or does it give a pretty detailed warning sign that this is a 'no fly zone' to follow on ducks?

[jbeaumont21]

I think its always best to retrieve downed birds as soon as possible.  I have seen eagles and hawks swoop down and take them. I have seen them look dead as can be and then suddenly snap out of it and dive under and never come back up.  Just too many unpredictable things that can happen. As far as them spooking other birds I think its quite the opposite. On several occasions I have had birds hold up out of range and land next to a dead floating bird. Another good reason to pick them up right away.

[ICEMAN]

Go get em as you shoot em, less game wasted this way. You owe them this approach.

[Fishnclifff]

You are supposed to make an effort to retrieve any game you shoot, per the regs.

Lot of this happening at Ridgefield. They are gettin on every one about this.

[ICEMAN]

Plus, you need to confirm what you think you shot. Hard to do this as they float off...

[hdshot]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

[Odell]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

This is not the law. Maybe it should be, but wounded game that gets away is not part of your legal bag limit.

[h2ofowlr]

Up here if you don't grab it quickly the eagles will snatch them up quickly.  I always retrieve them quickly after shooting them.

[JLS]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

Not true, you just have to make a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird.  No mention of time frame, just before you leave for the day.

I've left ducks for a while, knowing it would take me a while to get my dog around to where they were at.  As long as you know what it was and where it's at there's no issue.

[Special T]

I would say the sooner the better even tho there is no LEGAL requirement to do so. 

[Mfowl]

In my experience, if a warden observed you doing that it would create a lot of "suspicion" on thier part. You always seem to be guilty of something, they just haven't figured out what yet. No reason to fuel the fire. On a personal level, I like to have my birds in the bag and accounted for. Plus I like to watch my dog at work, he'd go crazy if I didn't let him in on the fun!

[sakoshooter]

If retreiving your birds is only affecting your hunting, I'd pick them all up as I shot them. If your retreiving your downed birds is affecting other hunters close by, you might want to combine trips since you don't have a dog. Just my 2cts.

[waoutdoorsman]

Last Monday I shot a bufflehead drake and a minutes later as I was getting ready to push the boat out for the retrieve a bluebill drake came in and attempted to land 10 yards from the downed buffie, it didn't seem to notice its fellow diving buddy belly up, ended up with two birds down, and I went for them immediately, and in the process I flared a small flock that was cupped and commited, but for me that's what makes it fun-Murphys law keeps it a challenge, but I always retrieve right away.

[hdshot]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

This is not the law. Maybe it should be, but wounded game that gets away is not part of your legal bag limit.

Lots left to interpretation of legal bag limit.  Does not state at all that your legal bag limit is what is in your possession only.  I could be wrong but can't argue because there is lots of grey area that can be used against the hunter.

Warden sees a hunter knock down 10 ducks and that hunters has 7 when checked?  Then what?  I can see the Warden  accuse that hunter shooting over limits and wasting.     

[hdshot]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

Not true, you just have to make a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird.  No mention of time frame, just before you leave for the day.

I've left ducks for a while, knowing it would take me a while to get my dog around to where they were at.  As long as you know what it was and where it's at there's no issue.

What may be reasonable to you may not be reasonable to the officer.

[Odell]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

This is not the law. Maybe it should be, but wounded game that gets away is not part of your legal bag limit.

Lots left to interpretation of legal bag limit.  Does not state at all that your legal bag limit is what is in your possession only.  I could be wrong but can't argue because there is lots of grey area that can be used against the hunter.

Warden sees a hunter knock down 10 ducks and that hunters has 7 when checked?  Then what?  I can see the Warden  accuse that hunter shooting over limits and wasting.   

Wounded game that gets away is not quite the same thing as a knocked down duck. In your situation wanton waste would apply. Knocking birds down and not retrieving them is much different than seeing a leg hanging on a duck as it flies away.

If you knock them down but they swim away it is up to the warden who observed you to decide if your effort to retrieve them was sufficient.

But nowhere in the wa regs does if say that wounded game that gets away is part of your bag limit.

[hdshot]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

This is not the law. Maybe it should be, but wounded game that gets away is not part of your legal bag limit.

Lots left to interpretation of legal bag limit.  Does not state at all that your legal bag limit is what is in your possession only.  I could be wrong but can't argue because there is lots of grey area that can be used against the hunter.

Warden sees a hunter knock down 10 ducks and that hunters has 7 when checked?  Then what?  I can see the Warden  accuse that hunter shooting over limits and wasting.   

Wounded game that gets away is not quite the same thing as a knocked down duck. In your situation wanton waste would apply. Knocking birds down and not retrieving them is much different than seeing a leg hanging on a duck as it flies away.

If you knock them down but they swim away it is up to the warden who observed you to decide if your effort to retrieve them was sufficient.

But nowhere in the wa regs does if say that wounded game that gets away is part of your bag limit.

But no where saying it relieves a hunter of not counting cripples getting away towards your daily limit either.    That is the problem. 

Yes a hunter could get away with one or two swimming off but the Feds could nail hunters if 30 get shot down to get 7 as example.

[duckkillerclyde]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

This is not the law. Maybe it should be, but wounded game that gets away is not part of your legal bag limit.

Lots left to interpretation of legal bag limit.  Does not state at all that your legal bag limit is what is in your possession only.  I could be wrong but can't argue because there is lots of grey area that can be used against the hunter.

Warden sees a hunter knock down 10 ducks and that hunters has 7 when checked?  Then what?  I can see the Warden  accuse that hunter shooting over limits and wasting.   

Wounded game that gets away is not quite the same thing as a knocked down duck. In your situation wanton waste would apply. Knocking birds down and not retrieving them is much different than seeing a leg hanging on a duck as it flies away.

If you knock them down but they swim away it is up to the warden who observed you to decide if your effort to retrieve them was sufficient.

But nowhere in the wa regs does if say that wounded game that gets away is part of your bag limit.

And you're completely wrong.  It's up to the courts.   


Before you go spouting the law, you should know it first. 

[Ned]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

This is not the law. Maybe it should be, but wounded game that gets away is not part of your legal bag limit.

Lots left to interpretation of legal bag limit.  Does not state at all that your legal bag limit is what is in your possession only.  I could be wrong but can't argue because there is lots of grey area that can be used against the hunter.

Warden sees a hunter knock down 10 ducks and that hunters has 7 when checked?  Then what?  I can see the Warden  accuse that hunter shooting over limits and wasting.   

Wounded game that gets away is not quite the same thing as a knocked down duck. In your situation wanton waste would apply. Knocking birds down and not retrieving them is much different than seeing a leg hanging on a duck as it flies away.

If you knock them down but they swim away it is up to the warden who observed you to decide if your effort to retrieve them was sufficient.

But nowhere in the wa regs does if say that wounded game that gets away is part of your bag limit.

And you're completely wrong.  It's up to the courts.   


Before you go spouting the law, you should know it first. 

So you are now an atty ??
I thought you were a truck driver.

.

[h2ofowlr]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

This is not the law. Maybe it should be, but wounded game that gets away is not part of your legal bag limit.

Lots left to interpretation of legal bag limit.  Does not state at all that your legal bag limit is what is in your possession only.  I could be wrong but can't argue because there is lots of grey area that can be used against the hunter.

Warden sees a hunter knock down 10 ducks and that hunters has 7 when checked?  Then what?  I can see the Warden  accuse that hunter shooting over limits and wasting.   

Wounded game that gets away is not quite the same thing as a knocked down duck. In your situation wanton waste would apply. Knocking birds down and not retrieving them is much different than seeing a leg hanging on a duck as it flies away.

If you knock them down but they swim away it is up to the warden who observed you to decide if your effort to retrieve them was sufficient.

But nowhere in the wa regs does if say that wounded game that gets away is part of your bag limit.

And you're completely wrong.  It's up to the courts.   


Before you go spouting the law, you should know it first. 

So you are now an atty ??
I thought you were a truck driver.

.

He was an atty just for the day on a few posts.  He was posting after a few stiff ones.  Caused some slight confusion. 

[Odell]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

This is not the law. Maybe it should be, but wounded game that gets away is not part of your legal bag limit.

Lots left to interpretation of legal bag limit.  Does not state at all that your legal bag limit is what is in your possession only.  I could be wrong but can't argue because there is lots of grey area that can be used against the hunter.

Warden sees a hunter knock down 10 ducks and that hunters has 7 when checked?  Then what?  I can see the Warden  accuse that hunter shooting over limits and wasting.   

Wounded game that gets away is not quite the same thing as a knocked down duck. In your situation wanton waste would apply. Knocking birds down and not retrieving them is much different than seeing a leg hanging on a duck as it flies away.

If you knock them down but they swim away it is up to the warden who observed you to decide if your effort to retrieve them was sufficient.

But nowhere in the wa regs does if say that wounded game that gets away is part of your bag limit.

And you're completely wrong.  It's up to the courts.   


Before you go spouting the law, you should know it first. 

The court is now in the field ticketing?

The context is about what a WARDEN will do, not what someone might get thrown out of court.

[duckkillerclyde]

No the courts don't ticket but it's up to the court to decide.   

[Ned]

No the courts don't ticket but it's up to the court to decide.   

If it wasnt up to the warden to decide..........you wouldnt be in court in the first place smart guy

Take your own advise....................if you dont know the law, dont flap your gums.

.

[winshooter88]

Is any duck worth going to court over if you don't have to.

[duckkillerclyde]

Is any duck worth going to court over if you don't have to.

No but your rights are.  As soon as you don't exercise your rights, you loose them.   

[Cougar125]

Last season I had ducks stolen by otters, eagles, and harbor seals.  Pick them up as soon as feasibly possible.

[BiggLuke]

You are supposed to make an effort to retrieve any game you shoot, per the regs.

Lot of this happening at Ridgefield. They are gettin on every one about this.

He's right. "Make an effort" is the whole point.
I would say go get 'em with your boat or whatever as soon as you can.
It's much more ethical too.

Remember the old saying??

"A bird in the hand, is worth 2 in the bush."